Admission requirements
BA diploma
Description
The course offers an overview of African cinematography and an analysis of African films. It will provide students with conceptual tools for discussing how films create “Africa” in the intertextual dialogue of past and present ‘stories’ retold or implicated as background in African films. The theme this year is “stories of (un)development and cooperation through African eyes”.
The module is given by a short presentation (15 minutes), watching the film, pause, 30 minutes presentation/discussion.
Course objectives
- Acquire knowledge and understanding of African cinematography and film styles, themes, structures, and intertextuality
- Understand and enjoy African films
- Develop critical thinking and knowledge on filmic constructions of Africa
- Acquire comparative methods and techniques of film analysis
- Develop communication skills in oral and written expression (presentations and papers)
Timetable
Collegerooster
Once a week (4 hours) in block 2
Mode of instruction
Lecture
Workshop
Collaborative learning
Assessment method
Presentation
Take-home exam
Essay
Blackboard
Blackboad is used to offer program, study materials, power point presentations of lecturer and students, and announcement
Reading list
Students find the reading list and study materials on Blackboard and in the course file at the Department (Dept. hall, building van Wijkplaats 4, first floor, right side). The students are expected to read the study materials before the lectures.
Example study materials:
Armes, R., Postcolonial Images, Indiana UP, Bloomington and Indianapolis, 2005
Gugler, J., African Film, Indiana UP, Bloomington, j Currey, Oxford, D Philip, Cape Town, 2003
Thackway, M, Africa shoots back, Indiana UP, Bloomington, Currey, Oxford, D Philip, Cape Town, 2003.
Registration
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Study in Leiden website for information on how to apply.
Contact information
Dr. Daniela Merolla
d.merolla@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
Students can obtain extra ECTS by writing a larger and comparative research paper.